CATEGORIES

Complete Psittacine

Individual Attentions for Baby Parrots

News from Loro Parque

Conservation and breeding of parrots

Back from the Brink

Decimated by poachers and smugglers, the guacamayaroja, or Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macao), is making a comeback in the Central American rainforest.

Climate Change And The Cape Parrot

Cape Parrots (Poicephalus robustus) used to be seen near Cape Town, but were last sighted there in 1726 and in the present-day, occupy a more restricted geographical distribution in South Africa, being reliant on fragments of misty Afromontane forest between 1,000 and 1,400m above sea level in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces. Estimates of the current population size are between 1,1001,786 individuals, derived from an annual national census called the Cape Parrot Big Birding Day (CPBBD), a remarkable case of citizen science in action.

Riders asked for views as restrictions ease

A new website asks equestrians for their experiences and priorities as the situation moves back towards normality

Safety concerns as owners told to pay for rescues

There are fears owners who cannot afford the charges may attempt to save horses themselves

Rights for those who buy horses unseen

Although riders are strongly advised to view before they buy, they do have rights if matters do not go as planned

Zara Tindall

The former European and world champion tells Catherine Austen about her passion of riding for the British team, why pressure makes her tick and her chance to return to the Olympic fray

The Queen's favourite horses

From a pair of beautiful Highland ponies to a ceremonial stalwart and a European champion, The Queen highlights eight special horses she and her family have loved riding and watching

Home schooling

Since the Covid-19 lockdown, online learning is all the rage. Leslie Bliss takes a look at what it has to offer those who wish to upskill from the comfort of their own home

Heronsmill Tiger Lily

Sally McMillan had no idea her home-bred filly would end the 2019 season by taking the world’s most coveted in-hand accolade – but she did. Alex Robinson speaks to the hobby pony breeder

Green gold

Why do so many good hunters come from Ireland?

Eyes right

Guard against sore, scratched or sun-damaged eyes this summer, with advice from Ria Chalder MRCVS

Eventing prepares to restart within weeks

Plans are under way for events to run over the first weekend in July with protective measures in place

Start like the pros

Taking tumbles, grappling with tack cleaning and discipline are all par for the course of a child’s initiation into ponies – even when your parents happen to be famous equestrians, finds Madeleine Silver

Taming the tiny tyrant

Quick-thinking, intelligent or downright delinquent, ponies have all manner of tricks in their armoury. Andrea Oakes checks out seven common problems and how to solve them

Hayley Reynolds

The HOYS-winning native pony producer counts horses as her saviours alongside a hectic work schedule. Alex Robinson discovers how she’s made her “hobby” so successful

Lucinda Green

The event rider’s record of six Badminton titles has yet to be surpassed. Lucinda Green tells Catherine Austen about those winning horses and the lessons each one taught her

‘I'm more motivated without shows'

Carl Hester on the benefits of stress-free schooling and generating income

The barefoot debate

Some say barefoot is natural, others argue that modern competition horses are purpose-bred and need shoes. Polly Bryan consults the experts

Studies show the importance of biomechanics for horse and rider

Separate work on rider position has had interesting results for all equestrians and their horses

Midnight Dancer

This family-produced Connemara has won pony European gold medals for both Ellie Healy and her younger brother, Finn. Pippa Roome profiles the sensitive grey who does whatever is asked of him

Is he hale and hearty?

Even the most robust pony needs a helping hand in old age, as Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS explains

Best foot forward

We’ve all heard the expression “no foot, no horse”, but what actually constitutes a bad foot and can anything be done about it? Stephanie Bateman investigates

‘Tessy has a large personality for a small dog and she takes her sheep duties to heart'

Joseph Waters and his family farm 60 acres in South Devon, where Tessy the Norfolk Terrier and ace ‘sheepdog’ is one of the ‘things’ the teenager couldn’t imagine living without

The mover and shaker

With her bright red hair and can-do attitude, Hannah Jackson stands out from the usual farming crowd. Charlotte Cooper finds out from the first-generation farmer, TV presenter and social media star about life as a smallholder and as the Red Shepherdess

The Cuckoo calls

In his series on birds that breed true, Grant Brereton takes a look at the perhaps quite obviously named Cuckoo variety of poultry, outlining how the pattern is inherited

Rising to the challenge

Adam Henson looks at how the agricultural sector is going above and beyond to keep the nation ticking over

Rise of the machines

Running a smallholding is no easy task. Having machinery to help not only lightens the load, but it saves time too. Stephanie Bateman asks smallholders which of the machines they own they cherish the most

Hownow (brilliant) brown cows!

For certain smallholdings, Covid-19 has brought welcome growth. The carbon-neutral Hownow Dairy in South Devon is one such firm that has experienced an exponential hike in home deliveries. Catherine Austen reports